Herbs and Spices that are Good for Dogs, Bad for Dogs, Uses, Dosage

There are many herbs and spices that can be added to your dog's daily diet.  

Herbs and spices can be very rich in nutrients vital to the daily maintenance of your dog's health;

Herbs and spices can also be used to treat allergies, help prevent degenerative effects of aging, help prevent  cancer, help heal wounds;

But do you know which herbs/spices are safe for your dog and which are not? 

The following provides an overview of which herbs are beneficial, which are dangerous and when you should not give your dog herbs and spices...

Herbs & Spices That Are Safe and Beneficial for Dogs
 

The following provides a partial list of herbs and spices that are safe for dogs to ingest.  Some are also safe and effective for topical applications as well…

❀Alfalfa
❀Aloe Vera multiple health benefits .
❀Anise multiple health benefits
❀Burdock
❀Basil multiple health benefits
❀Calendula

• treat ear infections
• soothing bath rinse 
• dental care - for treating bleeding gums

❀Catnip
❀Cayenne

• Should never be ingested but can be used topically;
• Topical application:
• Cayenne in small quantity can be used as a topical treatment; 
• The Capsaicin from cayenne peppers can be added to creams and gels as capsacin is a natural pain reliever and also has excellent antibacterial properties to help fight infection.

❀Caraway Seed multiple health benefits
❀1Chamomile

• soothing bath rinse

❀1Cinnamon multiple health benefits also...

• good for dental care – oral rinse, fight plaque and bacteria

❀Cilantro (Corriander)

•  good for dental care – bacteria growth inhibitor

❀Curcumin - multiple health benefits

• Curcumin offers an vast array of health benefits

❀Dandelion
❀Echinacea

• treat ear infections
• good for dental care – treat infected teeth, infected and bleeding gums, oral rinse 

❀Eyebright
❀Flax Seed multiple health benefits also...

• good source omega 3 fatty acid 

❀1Fennel multiple health benefits
❀Garlic multiple health benefits also...

• treat ear infections 

❀Ginger multiple health benefits also...

• protect your dog’s ears from frostbite 
• aid in curing motion sickness

❀Gingko
❀Green Tea multiple health benefits also...

• excellent as a soothing bath rinse
• to keep ears clean 

❀Hawthorn
❀Licorice
❀Milk Thistle
❀Mint

•  good for dental care – bacteria growth inhibitor

❀Mullein 

• treat ear infections

❀Nettle
❀Oat
❀Oregano
❀Oregon Grape

• treat ear infections
•  good for dental care – treat infected teeth, infected and bleeding gums, oral rinse

❀Parsley multiple health benefits also...

• good for oral health, bone health…

❀Red Clover

❀Rooibos Tea multiple health benefits  also...

• also - excellent as a soothing bath rinse

❀1Sage
❀Sarsaparilla
❀Skullcap
❀Slippery Elm

• good for treating diarrhea

❀Spearmint

•  good for dental care – bacteria growth inhibitor

❀St. John’s Wort
❀Turmeric - multiple health benefits

 1note - these herbs are safefor pregnant dogs when used as a culinary herb.  Do not use essential oils derived from these herbs as part of a pregnant dog's diet.
Turmeric

Herbs & Spices that Are NOT Safe for Dogs
The following provides a list of some of the herbs that are harmful to dogs…

• Cocoa
• Comfrey
• Paprika
• Pennyroyal
• Pepper
• Salt
• Tea Tree Oil (must only be used in diluted carrier such as almond or olive oil in a ratio of 50:50)
• Nutmeg
• Mace
• Ma Huang (Ephedra) use under supervision of a holistic veterinarian only.
• Wormwood (a dewormer that should only ever be used under the supervision of a holistic veterinarian)

 Daily Herbal Intake Based on Dog’s Weight
The table below provides a general guideline for herbs/spices based on your dog’s weight. The information provided in the table is an extract from Dr. Kidd’s Guide to Herbal Dogs Care.
 

Dog’s Weight	Sprinkles (on dog's food once/day)	Teas	Capsules/Tablets	Tinctures
1-10 lbs	a small pinch	less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2 capsule, 1-3 times/day	1-3 drops, 2-3 times/day
10-20 lbs	a bigger pinch about	1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2-1 capsule/tablet, 1-3 times/day	3-5 drops, 2-3 times/day
20-50 lbs	2 pinches-1 teaspoon	1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 2-3 times/day	5-10 drops, 2-3 times/day
50-100 lbs 10-	2 pinches-2 teaspoons	1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 3-4 times/day	20 drops, 2-3 times/day
Over 100 lbs,	up to 1 tablespoon	up to 1 cup 3 times/day	adult human dose	adult human dose

When Should Herbs & Spices Not be Introduced to Your Dog’s Diet

While certain herbs and spices do not create a hazard by themselves they can interfere with the conventional medicines. If your dog is on any of conventional medicines please make sure you consult your veterinarian before you introduce herbs or spices to your dog’s diet. The following provides a list of some of the medicines that some herbs may interfere with...

• Anti-inflammatory (i.e. Rimadyl)
• Please note - Turmeric and Curcumin will notdegrade the effects of Glucosamine, Chondrotin or MSN, and can be used with Turmeric and Curcumin.
• Aspirin
• Antibiotics
• Cardiac drugs
• Central Nervous System drugs
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Diabetic / Hypoglycemic drugs (i.e. Insulin)
• Diuretics (i.e. Furosemide, Diazide)
• Hormones (i.e. Thyroxine)
• Steroids